Buddleja plant named ‘TOBUD0703’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Buddleja  plant named ‘TOBUD0703’ that is characterized by conical flower spikes with purple flowers and a long flowering season.

Botanical classification: Buddleja davidii.

Variety denomination: ‘TOBUD0703’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Buddlejaplant botanically known as Buddleja davidii and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘TOBUD0703’.

‘TOBUD0703’ originated from open pollination of the female or seedparent a proprietary Buddleja davidii identified as ‘BU05024’ (notpatented) and an unknown male or pollen parent in 2006. The resultingseeds were subsequently planted and grown. The cultivar ‘TOBUD0703’ wasselected by the inventor in 2007 as a single plant in Harkstead,Ipswich, United Kingdom.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘TOBUD0703’ first occurred byterminal cuttings in 2007 in Harkstead, Ipswich, United Kingdom. Sincethat time, under careful observation, the unique characteristics of thenew cultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newBuddleja cultivar ‘TOBUD0703’. These traits in combination distinguish‘TOBUD0703’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart from other existingknown varieties of Buddleja.

-   -   1. Buddleja ‘TOBUD0703’ exhibits conical flower spikes with        purple flowers.    -   2. Buddleja ‘TOBUD0703’ exhibits a long flowering season.

The closest comparison cultivar is Buddleja ‘Tobudviole’ (not patented).‘TOBUD0703’ is distinguishable from ‘Tobudviole’ by the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. ‘TOBUD0703’ has a larger overall size than ‘Tobudviole’.    -   2. ‘TOBUD0703’ has purple flowers. The flowers of ‘Tobudviole’        are violet.    -   3. ‘TOBUD0703’ has a larger number of leaves than ‘Tobudviole’.

‘TOBUD0703’ is distinguishable from the female parent ‘BU05024’ by thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘TOBUD0703’ has purple flowers. The flowers of ‘BU05024’ are        pink.    -   2. ‘TOBUD0703’ exhibits an upright habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofBuddleja ‘TOBUD0703’. The plant in the photograph shows a view of a theinflorescence on a 4 month old plant. The photograph was taken usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible byconventional photographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Buddleja cultivarnamed ‘TOBUD0703’. Data was collected in Mainz, Germany from 4 monthplants grown outdoors in 16 cm. diameter containers. The time of yearwas Fall and the average temperature was 20 degrees Centigrade duringthe day and 10 degrees Centigrade at night. The light level was naturallight. No photoperiodic treatments or growth retards were used. Colordeterminations are in accordance with The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used. The growing requirements are similarto the species. ‘TOBUD0703’ has not been tested under all possibleconditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations inenvironmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without anyvariance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Buddleja davidii ‘TOBUD0703’.-   Annual or perennial: Perennial.-   Parentage: ‘TOBUD0703’ is the product of the female or seed parent a    proprietary Buddleja davidii identified as ‘BU05024’ and an unknown    male or pollen parent.-   Plant type: Woody shrub.-   Vigor: Strong.-   Growth habit: Upright.-   Plant shape: Bushy, upright.-   Suitable container size: 16 cm. pots.-   Height: 60 to 70 cm. in height.-   Width: 70 to 80 cm. in width.-   Low temperature tolerance: −20° Centigrade.-   High temperature tolerance: 45° Centigrade.-   Propagation: Cuttings or tissue culture.-   Time to initiate roots in summer: 14 days to initiate roots at 22°    Centigrade.-   Time to initiate roots in winter: 20 days to initiate roots at 20°    Centigrade.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner in summer: 21 days at 22°    Centigrade.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner in winter: 28 days at 20°    Centigrade.-   Crop time: Approximately 10 weeks.-   Root system: Fine and fibrous.-   Stem:    -   -   Basal branching.—Yes.        -   Average number of lateral branches.—8.        -   Pinching.—Yes.        -   Lateral branch diameter.—4 mm. in diameter.        -   Lateral branch length.—40 cm. in length.        -   Internode length.—4 cm.        -   Stem shape.—Round.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem color.—195B and 177C.        -   Pubescence.—Present.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—30 to 40.        -   Leaf shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf base.—Attenuate.        -   Leaf length.—8 cm. in length.        -   Leaf width.—2 cm. in width.        -   Texture.—Glabrous both surfaces.        -   Pubescence.—Young leaves covered with short hairs on both            sides.        -   Leaf margin.—Serrate.        -   Venation pattern.—Anastomosing.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—190A.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—195A.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—N137A.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—195A.        -   Vein color (upper surface).—144D.        -   Vein color (under surface).—144D.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petiole dimensions.—3 mm. in length, and 2 mm. in diameter.        -   Petiole color.—144D.        -   Durability of foliage to stress.—Strong.-   Flower:    -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Terminal and lateral            verticillasters.        -   Inflorescence dimensions.—9 to 12 cm. in length and 3 to            4 cm. in width.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—250 to 300.        -   Flower type.—Salverform.        -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—3 to 5 spikes.        -   Quantity of flower buds per lateral stem.—3 to 5 spikes.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—2500 to 6000.        -   Natural flowering season.—June to October.        -   Time to flower.—6 weeks.        -   Rate of flower opening.—Every 3 to 4 days.        -   Fragrance.—Strong.        -   Flower bud length.—9 mm.        -   Flower bud diameter.—2 mm.        -   Flower bud shape.—Clavate.        -   Bud color.—61A.        -   Rate of bud opening.—3 to 4 days.        -   Flower aspect.—Outward.        -   Flower shape.—Salverform.        -   Flower dimensions.—7 to 8 mm. in diameter and 11 mm. in            height.        -   Flower longevity.—5 to 8 days.        -   Throat color.—28B.        -   Tube length.—9 mm.        -   Tube diameter.—1 mm.        -   Tube color.—67A.        -   Number of petals.—4 to 5.        -   Fused or unfused.—Fused.        -   Petal arrangement.—Cruciform.        -   Petal texture.—Smooth both sides.        -   Petal shape.—Reniform.        -   Petal margin.—Undulate.        -   Petal apex.—Truncate.        -   Petal base.—Fused.        -   Petal length.—4 mm.        -   Petal width.—3 mm.        -   Petal color when opening (upper side).—72A.        -   Petal color when opening (under side).—72B.        -   Petal color fully opened (upper side).—72A.        -   Petal color fully opened (under side).—72B.        -   Petal color fading to.—72B.        -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Persistent.-   Sepals:    -   -   Sepal arrangement.—Cruciform, clasping.        -   Number of sepals.—4.        -   Sepal shape.—Ovate.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal apex.—Obtuse.        -   Sepal base.—Fused.        -   Sepal dimensions.—3.0 mm. in length and 2.0 mm. in width.        -   Young sepal color (upper side): N137C.        -   Young sepal color (under side): N137C.        -   Mature sepal color (upper side): N137C.        -   Mature sepal color (under side): N137C.-   Calyx:    -   -   Calyx shape.—Ovoid.        -   Calyx dimensions.—2 mm. in length and 1 mm. in diameter.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle dimensions.—3 mm. in length and 2 mm. in diameter.        -   Peduncle angle.—20 degrees from stem.        -   Peduncle strength.—Moderate.        -   Peduncle color.—192A.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Pedicel length.—4 mm.        -   Pedicel diameter.—1 mm.        -   Pedicel color.—148C.-   Reproduction organs:    -   -   Stamen number.—4.        -   Filament length.—2 mm.        -   Filament color.—28C.        -   Anther shape.—Ovate.        -   Anther length.—1.0 mm.        -   Anther diameter.—0.3 mm.        -   Anther color.—11D.        -   Amount of pollen.—Low.        -   Pollen color.—11D.        -   Pistil number.—1.        -   Pistil length.—2.0 mm.        -   Stigma shape.—Elongated.        -   Stigma color.—138D.        -   Style length.—2 mm.        -   Style color.—192D.        -   Ovary color.—192D.-   Fruit and seed production has not been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Disease and pest resistance has not    been observed.

1. A new and distinct variety of Buddleja plant named ‘TOBUD0703’ asdescribed and illustrated.